While those concerned about the whereabouts of the famous tigress Maya await the results of the forensic and DNA reports of the bones discovered in Tadoba forest, highly placed sources in the forest department have confirmed to mid-day that the bones are not those of a tiger. This would prompt wildlife lovers to wonder whether the tigress is still alive. “The samples taken from the wild animal skeletons found at Tadoba in November were sent for analysis. We have been informed that the bones were not of a tiger but some other animals,” said an official from the Maharashtra Forest Department. 

According to an official from the Maharashtra Forest Department, the samples taken from the wild animal skeletons found at Tadoba Andhari Tiger Reserve (TATR) were sent for DNA analysis to the National Centre for Biological Sciences and the Centre for Cellular and Molecular Biology for further analysis. The analysis revealed that the bones were not of a tiger but of some other animal. “We are awaiting an official report from the National Centre for Biological Sciences and the Centre for Cellular and Molecular Biology regarding the same,” he said.